Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Wolfgang Grohs, Europa Symphony Wind Soloists :: Mozart: Don Giovanni (Version for Winds)

Harmoniemusik (music for a small wind band) enjoyed a great vogue in Europe in the last quarter of the 18th and first quarter of the 19th centuries. J.Ch. Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Rosetti, Krommer, Druschetzky, and numerous other composers of varying stature composed for the medium. In Vienna, in particular, the nobility vied with one another in maintaining ensembles (usually pairs of oboes, clarinets, horns, and bassoons) of the finest available musicians. Transcriptions of popular operas of the day were especially in demand. Joseph Triebensee was born in Wittengau, Bohemia in 1772, and received composition lessons from J.G. Albrechtsberger, who was Beethoven's teacher. Triebensee became leader of the octet of Prince Alois Lichtenstein in 1796. While in this post he was very active as a composer and transcriber. He succeeded Carl Maria von Weber in 1816 as director of the opera in Prague, retiring in 1838. He died there in 1846. His transcriptions for winds are based on operas, symphonies, keyboard works, and ballets popular in his time. The date of the Don Giovanni transcription is unknown. The Europa Symphony is composed of the best Romanian orchestra instrument players and soloists, and benefits from the support of the Austrian government.